We've hit peak purple: Here's how to work the colour of the year into your decor

We've hit peak purple: Here's how to work the colour of the year into your decor

Ultra Violet is Pantone's 2018 pick, but who didn't want to swathe their life in the rich royal hue already?

Brittany Toole · CBC Life · January 10

(Left: urbanoutfitters.com; Right: via Instagram, @pantone)

If you're seeing purple everywhere you look, it's likely because Pantone's annual selection has captured the attention of the design and fashion worlds yet again. Every December, the Pantone Institute of Color releases their "color of the year", a colour they deem will be big in the coming annum. For 2018, it's the bold hue, PANTONE 18-3838 Ultra Violet. According to Laurie Pressman, Vice President of the Pantone Color Institute "The Pantone Color of the Year has come to mean so much more than 'what's trending' in the world of design; it's truly a reflection of what's needed in our world today." Whether or not you believe Ultra Violet is what our world needs now, you're about to see it everywhere. From fashion houses to decor mags, to our favourite shops and design blogs, the colour is not only making its way into high end design, but into everyday decor.

Top right: Radiant Orchid, Top left: Blue Iris, Bottom: Ultra Violet

This not the first time purple has been the Color of the Year – 2013's selection was Radiant Orchid, and a decade ago, they chose Blue Iris – another shade of blue-purple. In comparison, Ultra Violet is deeper, richer, and a more... electric shade of purple. Given the Institute's description of this dramatic colour, it makes sense Ultra Violet would seem a rather powerful statement: "A dramatically provocative and thoughtful purple shade, PANTONE 18-3838 Ultra Violet communicates originality, ingenuity, and visionary thinking that points us toward the future." A tall order for a colour, it's a statement maker nonetheless and fans of purple will be glad to see that this shade is already popping up everywhere.

This bold hue is a new fashion darling, spotted on runways this fall. And we wouldn't be a bit surprised if it makes an appearance in our fave retailers' spring and summer collections.

The fashion world loves the hue, as do the celebs they style. This shade has consistently been a red carpet hit.

The power-pairing of purple and royalty dates back to ancient times when it was reserved strictly for rulers. Some Roman emperors even forbid their subjects from wearing the colour under penalty of death. Turns out this elite colour was super rare, and it was only able to be produced in the ancient Phoenician city of Tyre in modern day Lebanon, by extracting the dye from a sea mollusk. Thus, super expensive, super time consuming, and apparently, only fit for royalty. The association with royalty remains to this day, and Queen Elizabeth II has long been on board with the trend.

(AFP/Getty Images)

It comes as no surprise that as we see makeup trending toward a hyper-pigmented moment, that Ultra Violet is making its presence known in the beauty world. From Rihanna's uber-popular Fenty Beauty, to drugstore brands that have been around for decades, we're super excited to see how this purple will play out in 2018's looks.

And since this pretty colour is popping up everywhere, we're expecting it to be big this wedding season, appearing in everything from florals to bridesmaids dresses, to tuxes, to tablescapes.

And if you really adore Ultra Violet, you may get the chance to completely immerse yourself in it in Toronto this spring. The AGO will be the only Canadian stop for critically acclaimed exhibition, Yayoi Kusama: Infinity Mirrors. The installations allow viewers to stand in the middle of a room of mirrors for 30 seconds, with some of the rooms transitioning to purple. Highly anticipated, ticketing has created somewhat of a frenzy, and not surprisingly, it's got a massive presence on Instagram.

Poised to be the standout colour of the year, interior designers everywhere are adding it to their trend predictions for 2018, including our very own Steven Sabados. Although this shade is not for the timid, it's surprisingly easy to work into your space because it can be incorporated into traditional, modern, and of course, bold designs. We've rounded up some high-impact options for those who want to go all-in, and some less-permanent options for those who aren't quite ready to commit to this dramatic colour.

On the walls

High impact: Wall colour

If you just cannot get enough of Ultra Violet, opt for all purple walls. This shade of purple is surprisingly glam and sophisticated, modern yet traditional. Depending on your style and how you choose to accessorize, this colour can work with your decor in so many ways.

Paint the moldings purple too, for an ultra modern, high impact look. It's a gorgeous colour for an office space, especially since Pantone says "the depth of PANTONE 18-3838 Ultra Violet symbolizes experimentation and non-conformity, spurring individuals to imagine their unique mark on the world, and push boundaries through creative outlets."

As pictured in this stunning Manhattan apartment featured in Elle Decor, moulding can be kept white, too. This vibrant hue pairs well with florals, blues, and rich, gold accents.

If the thought of just plain Ultra Violet on the walls doesn't quite do it for you, may we suggest a purple wallpaper? This tonal purple design plays up the palm leaf motif that's been trending for a while now and it's also evidence that this colour can be worked into a more boho aesthetic, combining with warm leather and macrame accents.

If you're not quite ready to commit to full-fledged purple walls, prints featuring the regal shade are the answer.

Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the institute, believes that "Musical icons Prince, David Bowie, and Jimi Hendrix brought shades of Ultra Violet to the forefront of western pop culture as personal expressions of individuality." Saatchi Art's curators have curated pieces from artists all over the world for their limited-edition Pantone Color of the Year collection. We're particularly infatuated with this Prince print in the artist's signature colour.

Rarely seen outside of carpeted kids' rooms or not-so-aesthetically pleasing gyms, purple is now a completely viable — not to mention chic — colour choice when it comes to flooring. Available in laminates and carpets at your local reno stores.

Is it too much to say this rug is the Platonic ideal of Ultra Violet? Either way, this gorgeous rug from Elte is perfect, and pretty, and pretty much reason enough to redo a room to incorporate a little if 2018's Colour of the Year.

Speaking of making a statement, this diamond tufted bed is the ultimate luxe bedroom look. Since it's entirely customizable, you can even order the headboard in a taller size if you want a little extra purple on your walls.

Purple curtains instantly add some colour to your walls without the hassle of actually painting them purple. Ideal for a boho chic space, these ones are purple, velvet, and tye-dyed — check, check and check.

Not a light fixture, but a fixture in design, a bench is the perfect piece of accent furniture. It works well at the end of the bed, for extra seating in a living room, or in an entryway. Plus, this retro design in a brass/purple combo is inspired by mid-century industrialism.

If a handcrafted chandelier is not quite right for your space, Light Color Live paired with Pantone to create a series of very on-trend Edison bulbs that you can hang in just about any space. No electrical rewiring required.